CHAPTER 28

"Thank you." he says as he takes the box from the delivery man and closes the door. He places the box on the kitchen counter and his heart starts to race as he focuses on the sound of Felicity scurrying around in the bedroom.

He itches to open the box. He brings his fingers to lift the top square, but he's stopped in his tracks as Felicity rounds the corner with her loud voice, "Oliver Queen! Have you packed yet? Your mother's driver will be here in half an hour and I'm telling you mister, those clothes sure as hell are not going to make their way into your suitcase on their own." she pokes him on his chest and he cannot help the smile on his face.

She looks absolutely adorable and he knows she's nervous about this trip. When she becomes bossy that's code for 'I'm nervous' and quite synonym to her incessant babbling. He places his hands on her shoulders to calm her a little and then she spots it.

"What's that?" she points to the big box on the counter.

He's been practising this explanation since he made the phone call but now his insides turn and the nerves overtake him. His throat goes dry and suddenly he forgets every word he planned to say.

"Oliver? What's wrong? What's in the box?" she asks again when he doesn't answer and this time there's a hint of anxiety in her voice.

"It's nothing bad." he soothes, "please just promise you won't get mad okay?"

"Why? What did you do?"

"Felicity." he pleads.

"Fine." she relents, but he can see she's not happy about this arrangement.

"Last night when you shaved your head, I thought you were very brave, but I also realised that it put tremendous pressure on you suddenly too." he explains and he can see in her eyes he's hit it right on the head.

"I know I said last night that your hair in no way makes you who you are….and I meant it, but I also know that meeting someone for the first time is daunting enough, not even saying that that person is a possible investor. I realise for you, that's a big thing because all you want out of this meeting, is someone to focus on your mind and expertise at that moment and not stare at you because you have no hair."

He suddenly realises how he just explained that and she comes off as extremely shallow.

"Ugh…" he gives a frustrated sigh, "I'm sorry that didn't exactly paint a very flattering picture of you, I didn't mean for you to sound shallow at all I'm just trying…."

She takes his hand into hers and interrupts him, with a small smile, "it's okay Oliver…I get what you're saying."

"Coming to that conclusion I wanted to make things a bit easier for you this weekend so I phoned the number of one of the contact persons in the manual Dr. Isaacs gave you when you started with your treatment. I know it was a long shot, but I got through to the manager and she agreed to meet you when we come back from our trip next week. They specialise in wigs made of actual human hair. It looks much more natural than the synthetic stuff."

Tears start to make the blue in her eyes even bluer.

"I explained to her about our trip today and that you only shaved your hair last night, so obviously you haven't had a chance to make preparations for the weekend. She graciously agreed to send you a few synthetic wigs so you have some prototypes to try on and see what you like, and also said she'll put a few extra items in the box should the wigs not work for you...like scarfs and beanies and…"

"Oh Oliver!" she sobs as she crashes her body into his. She wraps her arms around his neck and he pulls her close in a tight hug. "How can I be mad when you're just…so wonderful."

"I know the last time you were upset and very angry that I spoke to Dr. Isaacs behind your back and I just don't want you to feel like I did the same now."

She breaks the hug and stares at him. A look of shame displayed quite vividly on her face. "Oliver, I'm so sorry. I was upset and I just used that as an excuse to push you away because of my own insecurities. I'm really sorry that you feel like you need to tip toe around me. I am very thankful for what you are doing and your support means so much to me."

"I'm not tip toeing around you Felicity. I understand this is a lot for you to handle…I just…I love you, you know." he says, his heart constricted in his chest with all he feels for her. There's nothing he wouldn't do for her.

"I know." she says and pecks him on the lips as she wraps her arms around his neck bringing him closer yet again. She gently drags her hand palms over the fluffiness of his new hairstyle and it makes him smile.

"You like the new hair then?" he asks, staring at the content look on her face as he revels in the feel of her body pressed against his.

"It's growing on me." she smiles as he brings down his lips on hers. "The other hair was….sexy, but this, this makes you look all ninja-y."

He laughs at her depiction. "Felicity there's no such word."

"My IQ is much higher than your Mr. Queen, so I say there is now…" she laughs and closes the gap again.

He brings her even closer as the kiss becomes deeper. Their tongues sway in a dance, releasing a soft moan from her. The kiss last a few moments more when she slowly ends it, pecking him once, twice and just when he's ready for the third time she stops before their lips meet, "your bag needs clothes in them Mr. Queen." she whispers and leaves him wanting when she moves passed him to the box on the counter.

This woman will be the end of him.

XXXxxxXXXxxxXXX

No hiccups on the flight to Central City. Before they boarded the plane, he gave his mother and Thea a heads-up about Felicity shaving her hair so they wouldn't stare. The last thing Felicity needs is feeling self-conscious. He wants her to be herself at this meeting. Giving her a little bit of her confidence back is a step in the right direction.

He lies on their bed looking at her as she does her make up in the hotel room. On the flight, Thea and his mom helped Felicity decide which wig style was the best suited for her. Despite her natural hair colour being dark brown, she once again opted for blonde. The style of the wig is shorter than what she initially had…a curly long bob, ending just slightly under her chin. They decided that this style is much more natural since she had natural curls. People will think she just cut her hair.

After taking in her full appearance in the floor length mirror, he can see a sense of relief in her body language. For the first time in so long, she looks….happy.

There's a knock on the door that brings him back to reality and quickly focusing on his sister entering and making a huge fuss about how stunning Felicity looks. The black pencil skirt accentuates her small waist and the high heels…they just do things to him.

"Ollie, doesn't she look gorgeous?" she asks in a high pitched voice, he's sure the dogs all the way back home could hear her too.

He gets off the bed and walks directly to Felicity, trying hard to ignore his sister and her questioning glare. He places both his hands on her shoulder and before she can even say anything he dips her, supporting her back with his arm and kisses her passionately.

He's well aware that he's probably smudged her lipstick but he doesn't care. This woman in his arms is the best thing that's ever happened to him and she does in fact look absolutely gorgeous.

"Ollie!" Thea yells, "You're going to mess up her make up."

He grins at the woman in his arms as her eyes flutter open with the sound of Thea's voice. He doesn't help her to stand yet. They remain in that position as their eyes lock. A fierce shade of red covers her cheeks and once again he appreciates how beautiful she is when she blushes. Although she has make up on he can still see the traces of the tiredness on her face but when she blushes, all the traces of the tiredness disappears and he only sees his Felicity, his beautiful, strong and very brave Felicity.

He gently helps her to her feet and waits till she has her full balance before he lets go.

"Felicity Smoak, you're making my brother turn into a huge sap!" Thea jokingly scolds looking at the heart eyes in her brother's eyes.

"Aren't I lucky then?" Felicity answers, not once breaking eye contact with Oliver.

Thea can only shake her head as she makes herself comfortable on the couch in the living room of their hotel suite.

"So, where's mom?" Oliver finally acknowledges Thea, leading Felicity to the other couch.

"She said she'll meet us here in five minutes, something about a crisis at QC that she had to handle first."

Oliver moves closer to Felicity on the couch and entwines their fingers on her lap. He gives her a gentle kiss against her temple, careful not to mess up anything else at the risk of Thea yelling at him again.

"You two are positively gross, you know that?"

Felicity huffs a laugh, a hint of blush playing over her cheeks again and Oliver couldn't care less, the heart eyes not going anywhere.

"So?" Thea clears her throat, "did you tell her?"

Oliver glares at Thea and if looks could kill.

"Tell me what?" Felicity asks confused, turning her body to face him.

"Thank you Speedy, it was meant as a surprise."

"Oh sorry, forgot I said anything." she apologises, but it doesn't sway Felicity.

"Tell me what Oliver? Come on, you can't do that, you know how much I hate mysteries." she whines.

Oliver sighs and gives Thea another death glare but the younger Queen only smiles apologetically and shrugs her shoulders.

"When I heard we were coming to Central City, I recognised there was another item on your 'bucket list' that we haven't touched yet…so I arranged for that to change today." he explains.

"Really?!" she asks excitedly.

"Yes really." he answers, smiling at the excitement displayed on her face.

"Oliver, this is incredible. Who? Who is it?"

"Oh no you don't. That, beautiful, will remain a secret until the exact time you meet this person."

"Come on Oliver, pleeeeaaaseee?" she sings.

"Nope, not happening. If you want to be disappointed, you can be disappointed with Thea, because if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't even have known there was a mystery to be solved."

"Hey!" Thea says in response, receiving an evil grin from her older brother.

"Yes Speedy, two can play this game." she narrows her eyes at him, but he only laughs as he gets up from the couch to open the door for his mother.